SEAL Wolf In Too Deep(46)

“Both are in stable condition at the clinic. But we have a real problem.”

“I don’t think Debbie saw anything. And if she did, she was in shock. I doubt anyone would believe what she had to say if she did see anything.”

“We can’t risk it. You know it, Allan.”

Allan swung around and scowled at Paul. “What do you mean? She was out of it. If she saw anything, which I doubt, it was that I was giving CPR to Tara as a wolf. After that, Debbie was in such bad shape, she went into cardiac arrest, and she wasn’t able to witness anything at that point.”

“We can’t assume that she didn’t see Tara shift.”

“You’re not serious. Give her a chance to talk about what she witnessed, about the shooter and whatever else she saw. And then we can go from there.”

“You’re not thinking rationally about this,” Paul said. “You care way too much for her, for one thing. Pack takes priority. We have to protect our kind, no matter what.”

Allan’s heart raced. He thought his best friend meant to eliminate her. It would be easy enough to do. She had gone into cardiac arrest once. She could do it again, and this time she wouldn’t make it.

He whipped around and headed for the door.

“Allan, it’s for the best.”

He wasn’t listening. As pack leaders, Paul and Lori had the final say in matters regarding the pack. When he took over the pack, Paul had said he’d be as democratic as could be. He was normally really reasonable. Allan couldn’t understand what had gotten into him to take this stand against Debbie. Even if she had seen Tara shift, no one would believe Debbie.

Maybe something else had gone wrong. But Allan couldn’t let them kill her.

When he finally reached the clinic, he found Everett and Rose there, waiting for Tara to get out of surgery. “Where are your babies?” He didn’t know why he even asked. He knew someone would be watching them. He just felt thoroughly rattled and angry.

“Emma and some of her quilting friends are enjoying them for a moment,” Rose said, dark circles under her eyes.

He thought when Paul had said Tara was in stable condition that she was already out of surgery.

Allan’s mother and Lori intercepted Allan. “Debbie’s in the ICU. You can’t go in,” Lori said. “She’ll be out in a little while.”

Allan was confused. He thought Paul meant they had to eliminate Debbie. Maybe Paul was just trying to prepare him for what might happen. Allan couldn’t relax. The adrenaline was still pumping through his blood after saving both the women’s lives, and now with the concern that the pack would want to eliminate his partner, he couldn’t settle his anxiety.

“Christine took her into surgery first because she’s human and was more at risk of dying at this point,” Lori said. She let out her breath. “Allan, Paul called and said you were ready to do something rash. Why don’t you come with me and your mom and we can discuss this in the doctor’s office?”

“Is Debbie going to be given the chance to share her side of the story?”

Lori took his arm. She led him from the patient waiting area to the doctor’s office in the back of the clinic. The well-appointed office was filled with a sitting area of leather chairs and a redwood coffee table, a desk, and an office chair. Once inside, Lori said, “Okay, I know how Paul is sometimes. He’s rather to the point and yet he means well for all concerned.”

“For us, but not for Debbie.”

“Can I be perfectly honest with you?”

“You know that’s the only way I want both you and Paul to be.” As long as it meant Debbie was safe from harm.

“You were getting yourself way in over your head with Debbie.”

“I’m not dating her or thinking of any such thing. We just enjoy working with each other.” And so much more, but he couldn’t mention it to any of them.

Lori took another deep breath. His mother had taken a seat in front of the doctor’s desk and was looking concerned, her brows knit together in a tight frown.

“She died,” Lori said.

Allan felt dizzy, like the world had slipped out from under his feet. “You—”

Lori held her hand up to stop him from speaking further. “We didn’t have anything to do with it.”

“You said she was in the ICU. In stable condition. What the hell—”

“She died in the ambulance. They brought her back a second time.”

Allan stared at Lori, shocked to the core. Should he have gone to her rescue faster? But if he hadn’t removed the rounds from Tara and done CPR, she wouldn’t have survived.

“Because of what she witnessed—” Lori said.

“She was in shock. She couldn’t have seen anything.”

“Allan, she saw Tara shift.”

He sat in the chair, his legs no longer able to hold him up. “She’s in the ICU. How—”

“She came to, but they’re keeping her in there a little longer. She was terrified, her words slurred because of the heavy-duty pain medication she’s on, but she wanted us to know she saw a wolf turn into a woman. And she said her partner knew all about it.”

Allan felt the air leave his lungs. “What now?” His voice sounded oddly hollow to his ears. He realized how much he cared for her. She wasn’t just another human or his dive partner, but someone real and caring and devoted to helping others.